unsloth

Optimizes local LLM fine-tuning workflows using Unsloth and LoRA/QLoRA techniques.

Updated May 4, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/Plaidmustache/hermes-nulab --skill unsloth-plaidmustache
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: unsloth
Source: https://github.com/Plaidmustache/hermes-nulab/tree/main/optional-skills/mlops/training/unsloth
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/Plaidmustache/hermes-nulab --skill unsloth-plaidmustache

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires unsloth, torch, transformers, trl, datasets, peft, and includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

Unsloth provides comprehensive guidance for fine-tuning LLMs using LoRA/QLoRA techniques, emphasizing memory efficiency and local training performance.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Memory-efficient fine-tuning: guides users to apply 4-bit/8-bit quantization and adapter-based training to minimize VRAM.
  • Model support & workflows: covers popular models (Llama, Gemma, Qwen, Mistral) and typical fine-tuning scenarios (instruction tuning, domain adaptation, RL-ready setups).
  • End-to-end guidance: includes references to official docs, tutorials, and notebooks, plus steps to reproduce a fine-tuning workflow locally.

Quick Start

Install Unsloth via pip and follow the official docs to begin a local fine-tuning session.

Frequently Asked Questions about unsloth

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I fine-tune a Llama or Mistral model locally with less VRAM?

Fine-tuning Llama or Mistral locally with less VRAM requires applying 4-bit/8-bit quantization and LoRA adapter techniques, which reduce memory overhead. This approach enables training large models efficiently on consumer hardware.

What is QLoRA and how does it help with memory-efficient LLM training?

QLoRA is a fine-tuning technique that combines quantization with low-rank adapters to minimize VRAM usage during LLM training. It allows large language models to be trained on hardware with limited memory by freezing base weights and training lightweight adapters.

Can I run QLoRA fine-tuning workflows on macOS and Linux environments?

QLoRA fine-tuning workflows are supported on both Linux and macOS environments for popular model families like Llama, Gemma, Qwen, and Mistral. These workflows require Python packages including torch, transformers, and peft to execute locally.

What's the best way to set up instruction tuning for an open-source LLM?

The best way to set up instruction tuning involves using LoRA or QLoRA techniques with the TRL and datasets libraries to prepare formatted instruction data. This enables efficient domain adaptation and RL-ready setups while maintaining memory efficiency.

Do I need specific Python packages to run LoRA fine-tuning locally?

Running LoRA fine-tuning locally requires specific Python packages including unsloth, torch, transformers, trl, datasets, and peft. These dependencies provide the necessary framework support for quantization, model loading, and adapter-based training.

Why does local fine-tuning run out of memory on large models?

Local fine-tuning runs out of memory on large models because standard training updates all parameters simultaneously, exhausting available VRAM. Applying QLoRA with 4-bit quantization reduces memory pressure by freezing base weights and training only small adapter matrices.